Ayutthaya in bid to host World Expo for 2020

The Thai government has given its stamp of approval for Ayutthaya to bid for hosting the World Expo for 2020. The World Expo is thought to be one of the world’s most prestigious cultural events, after the Olympics and the World Cup, the most recent one being held in Shanghai. One wonders what the impact of a large number of visitors will be on the ruins of Ayutthaya (already a UNESCO World Heritage Site) should the city’s bid be successful, though.

The Cabinet yesterday picked Ayutthaya as the country’s official bid city to host World Expo 2020.

Akapol Sorasuchart, president of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), said the Kingdom was the first country to approve a city officially in the race to host the mega-event.

Ayutthaya came out ahead of the other two shortlisted provinces, Chon Buri and Chiang Mai, as it is close to Bangkok and has high potential for development as a new tourism landmark after the expo. The short distance from Bangkok means it would be easy for travellers to make one-day trips to the event.

Moreover, if it won the race to host the event, the province would also enhance the capital’s future expansion, including the plan to build an extended mass-transit rail system, the Red Line, to Rangsit, Akapol said.